John D Clair

Rules of Play
Mystic Vale
A game by John D Clair
For 2–4 players, ages 14 and up
Introduction
Centuries ago, a dying, wicked king pleaded for help
from the druids of Gaia. Knowing that to heal him
would only bring more suffering, the druids refused.
Infuriated, with his final breath the king pronounced
a dire curse that desolated the fertile Valley of Life.
Empowered by the dark ruler’s spiteful vengeance,
the king’s spell spread pestilence and blight over
the land.
The Valley of Life had been sacred to Gaia, a
birthplace for vital spirits of nature. These spirits
cried out for aid as the land slowly withered. Worse
still, some of the spirits grew corrupt and twisted
by the blight. Left unchecked, this corruption would
consume every spirit in the valley and irrevocably
destroy a portion of Gaia’s power forever.
In response, the Druid Council dispatched druids
into the valley to restore its verdant beauty. Gaia
herself blessed this mission, and the spirits welcomed
the druids’ much-needed assistance. Into the cursed
valley the druids came, prepared to nurture and heal
the land with their life-giving powers. The spirits
pledged to ally with the druids and bring forth new
life into the valley’s glens and groves.
Although Gaia’s blessings beget life, the cursed blight
fights back, and careless druids may be thwarted
by its evil and falter on their mission. Attempting
to restore too much, too quickly can backfire
and impede the road to recovery. To remove the
desecration and return the Valley of Life to nature’s
bounty will require courage and caution in equal
measure.
2
Contents
Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Game Overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Goal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Components. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Setup. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Card Anatomy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
How to Play. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Taking a Turn. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
1) Planting Phase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
– Spoiling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
2) Harvest Phase. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
– Resolve Harvest Abilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
– Score VP. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
– Buy Vale Cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
– Buy Advancements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
3) Discard Phase. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
– Sleeve Advancements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
– Replenish Vales. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
– Replenish Advancements . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
4) Prep Phase. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
End of the Game . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Additional Rules. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
– Mana Token. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
– Guardian Symbol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
– Wild Spirit Symbol. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
– On-deck Card. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
– Using Abilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
– Planting Your Field. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
– Open and Hidden Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
– Decay. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
– Card vs. Advancement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Card Clarifications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
– Advancements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
– Vales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Credits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Quick Reference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Game Overview
Players take on the role of druidic clans attempting
to restore the cursed lands to their former vitality.
The cards in your deck represent the parts of the
valley that you are tasked with revitalizing, and
each advancement you add to the cards represents
new life and vitality you have brought to that land.
Your power is tied to the land, and as more life
grows in your valleys and groves, so too does your
power, and with it the spirits of nature to revive
the miraculous vales.
Each turn you play cards into your field to gain
powerful advancements and valuable vale cards.
But you must be careful not to overuse your power
or it will result in decay and end your turn. During
the game you will be able to build up your cards
by adding powerful advancements. Crafting your
cards with advancements and buying vale cards
at the right time will help you bring back the most
miraculous portion of the Mystic Vale to life, and to
achieve victory!
Goal
The player with the most (victory points) at
the end of the game wins.
Components
Your game of Mystic Vale should include the
following. If it does not, contact
customerservice@alderac.com for assistance.
• 80 Starting cards divided into 4 identical decks
consisting of:
– Beastbrothers deck (20 cards)
– Dawnseekers deck (20 cards)
– Lifewardens deck (20 cards)
– Waveguards deck (20 cards)
• 96 Advancements consisting of:
– 33 Level 1
– 30 Level 2
– 33 Level 3
• 18 Fertile Soil advancements
• 36 Vale Cards consisting of:
– 18 Level 1
– 18 Level 2
• 4 Reference cards
• 44 1-point VP tokens
• 10 5-point VP tokens
• 4 Mana tokens
• 100 card sleeves (20 of the sleeves are extra in
case replacements are required)
• Rulebook
For the First Game
Before playing the first game, each starting card
should be placed in a clear plastic sleeve. Once
placed, starting cards should remain in the sleeves
since there is no purpose in the game to remove
them. Vale cards are not sleeved. Also note that
the game includes 20 additional plastic sleeves in
case replacements are required.
We also recommend that new players take a
reference card in order to review the phases
during their turn.
3
Setup
1. Player Decks
Each player takes a deck of 20 sleeved starting cards
(cards belonging to a specific deck are denoted by their
card back). Each player’s deck should have 9 Cursed
Land, 3 Fertile Soil, and 8 blank cards. Each player should Player Deck
shuffle their deck and place it face down in front of them.

2. The Commons
The commons is a set of 9 advancements
available to buy during the game in the center
of the table. To set this up, you first take out all Level 3 Advancements
the Fertile Soil advancements and place them
in a separate deck. Then separate all the other
advancements into decks denoted by their
level symbols (see “Card Anatomy” on page 7).

The Commons
. Level 1 Advancements:
Shuffle all of the level 1 advancements
together. Then count out a number of
advancements into a deck face down and
put the rest back in the box. The number of Level 2 Advancements
advancements in the deck is based on the
number of players in the game, which is
listed below:
• 2 players – count out 12 advancements and
leave the rest in the box.
• 3 players – count out 15 advancements and
leave the rest in the box.
• 4 players – count out 18 advancements and
leave the rest in the box.
Then turn over the first 3 advancements of the Level 1 Advancements
deck as shown in the setup diagram.

.. Level 2 Advancements:
Use all of the level 2 advancements, then turn
over the first 3 advancements of the deck.

Fertile Soil
... Level 3 Advancements: Deck
Use all of the level 3 advancements, then turn
over the first 3 advancements of the deck.

Player Deck

4
 Player Deck
3. Vale Cards
Separate the vale cards into a level 1
deck and a level 2 deck. Shuffle the level
1 deck and turn over 4 cards face up,
then do the same with the level 2 deck.

Level 1 Vale Cards Level 2 Vale Cards

I

Ley Line Nexus

II

Fungal Forest
3
2

ons
I

Azure Lake

II

Wellspring Glade
Ha��est: Gain 1
.

7
I

World Tree

II

Verdant Valley
6
I
2

Talonthorn Den

II

Feral Grove
Ha��est: Gain 1
.
1

Player Deck
4. Setup VP Tokens
Place the tokens in a pool based
on the number of players:
• 2 players – count out 23
and leave the rest in the box.
• 3 players – count out 28
and leave the rest in the box.
• 4 players – count out 33
Pool of VP Tokens and leave the rest in the box.

5
5. Setup Fields 6. Determine Starting Player
During the game you will always have 20 cards. Take a number of (mana) tokens equal to the
Your cards will be in one of four locations: your number of players and be sure to include the token
deck, your field, your discard pile, and you will with the starting player symbol.
have one on-deck card. During setup, players will
create their starting field and on-deck card. Active Side Used Side

Each player makes their starting field using the

following steps:
A. Shuffle your 20 card deck and place it face
down in front of you.
B. Turn over the top card of your deck and place
it back on top of your deck face up. This is your
on-deck card.
C. Place your on-deck card in your play area,
creating the start of your field, then turn over
a new on-deck card.
D. Repeat step C until you have two Cursed Lands
in your field and a third one on-deck.
Starting Player
Symbol
Place the tokens so that their active side is face
up and shuffle them. Each player takes one token
at random and turns it over so the spent side is
face up. The player with the starting player symbol
will be the starting player for this game.
Players are now ready to begin the game!

Example Starting Field

Deck On-deck
Card

6
 Card Anatomy
Advancement Vale Card

Title Cost Title Talonthorn Den

Level Cost
Spirit
Symbol Victory
Guardian Ability Points
Symbol (during end
of game)

I
Ha��est: Gain 1 . 1

Level Ability Victory

Points
(during end
of game)
Advancement
Victory Cost Level Symbols
Points The level of each advancement is
(during Level indicated by the number of pips
Harvest) below its cost. The border on the top
Victory and bottom of the advancement also
Title Points indicates its level as shown below.
Decay (during end .
Symbol Level 1:
Ability of game)
.. Level 2:

... Level 3:

7
How to Play
The starting player takes the first turn of
the game.
When a player finishes their Discard Phase, the
next player clockwise around the table takes a
turn. Players continue taking turns until the
end of the game.
1) Planting Phase
You resolve your Planting Phase using the
following steps:
A. You must choose to either pass or push.
If you pass, skip immediately to your
Harvest Phase.
B. If you chose to push, place your on-deck card
into your field, to the right of any previously
played card. Resolve “When Played” abilities
on that card (if any), then turn over the top

Taking a Turn card of your deck and place it back on top of

your deck face up as your new on-deck card.
When a player is taking a turn, they are considered
C. Determine if you have Spoiled (see “Spoiling”
the active player. During your turn, you must take
on page 9).
the following phases in order:
D. If you have not Spoiled, go back to step A
1. Planting Phase
and repeat.
2. Harvest Phase
In this manner, you continue until you either pass
3. Discard Phase or Spoil. Whenever your deck is empty and you
need to reveal a new on-deck card, shuffle your
4. Prep Phase discard pile; it becomes your draw deck. If all of
your cards are in your field, then you must pass.

8
Spoiling
Some cards have (decay) symbols on the left Turn Tip
side of the card. While you may resolve your various
If at any time during your Planting actions during the Harvest Phase in any
Phase or Prep Phase you have 4 or order you wish, we recommend that you
more revealed, then you Spoil. generally follow the order below so that
your resources and abilities are easier to
are counted on cards in your manage:
field as well as your on-deck card. When you
Spoil, you immediately skip your Harvest Phase 1. Count up your and spirit symbols.
and jump straight to your Discard Phase. You also
turn over your token to the active side as a 2. Resolve “Harvest” abilities on cards in
consolation for Spoiling. your field.

Some cards have (growth) symbols on the left 3. Score .

side of the card. 4. Buy vale cards.
Each you have revealed in your
field, your on-deck card, and from any 5. Buy advancements.
other abilities cancels 1 . Meaning,
for example, if you have 1 , then
you Spoil only if you have 5 revealed instead of
the normal 4.
Resolve Harvest Abilities
You must resolve “Harvest” abilities on cards in
your field (do not count your on-deck card) unless
2) Harvest Phase it specifically states otherwise. However, you may
If you chose to end your Planting Phase before use the ability at any time during your Harvest
Spoiling, you now complete your Harvest Phase Phase.
(again, only if you did not Spoil).
Each “Harvest” ability on an advancement can only
The Harvest Phase is when you count up your be used once each Harvest Phase.
and spirit symbols ( , , , ), resolve
“Harvest” abilities on cards in your field, score
, buy vale cards, and buy advancements. Score VP
All of this can be done in any order.
Any card in your field (do not count your on-deck
You could for example buy an advancement, card) showing a (victory point) symbol on the
then resolve a “Harvest” ability on one of your left side of the card means that you must gain that
cards, then buy a vale card, then buy another many tokens from the pool.
advancement.
Important: You do not gain tokens from gray
symbols on the right side of cards. Vale cards
and advancements with a gray symbol on the
right side of the card are added to your total
at the end of the game (see “End of the Game” on
page 13).

9
Buy Vale Cards Buy Advancements
You will not be able to buy vale cards for your first With the you have in your field (do not count
few turns since you need to have spirit symbols your on-deck card) you may buy up to two
and none of your starting cards have any. advancements per turn, which includes Fertile Soil
and any of the 9 advancements available in the
There are 4 spirit symbols in the game: commons. The cost of each advancement is shown
in the top right of each advancement. When buying
a Fertile Soil, you may buy any one you want.
If your token is on the active side, you may
spend it by turning the token over to the spent
Animal Forest Sky Wild
side. You then gain 1 additional to spend during
Spirit Spirit Spirit Spirit
that Harvest Phase.
You will put these symbols on your cards by Any that you did not spend is lost at the end of
adding advancements. If you have the right spirit your Harvest Phase. However, if you choose not to
symbols on the cards in your field (do not count spend your active token it will remain active
your on-deck card) to match one of the eight for your next turn.
revealed vale cards, then you may buy that card.
Advancements that you buy are not sleeved until
You may buy up to two vale cards per turn. your Discard Phase. Abilities and symbols on
When you buy a vale card, place it face up in advancements that are not sleeved cannot
your play area. be used.
A symbol used to buy one vale card may not be Note: You are not allowed to buy an advancement
used to buy another. For example, if you want to if you do not have a legal place to sleeve it on a card
buy two different vale cards and they each have in your field.
an in their cost, then you must have two
different symbols in your field.
Some vale cards feature an ability that you can use
during the turns after you buy the card. Vale cards
with a gray symbol on the right side of the
card add to your total at the end of the game.
If a vale card shows a in its cost, you may use
any spirit symbol to pay that cost.
Important: Abilities on vale cards may not be
used during the turn that you buy them.
Tip: In order to help track which vale cards
you have used during your turn, you can simply
rotate them 90 degrees. When you buy a vale
card, immediately rotate it to indicate that you
cannot use the card during this turn. At the end
of your turn, rotate all of your used vale cards
counterclockwise so they are ready to use
next turn.

10
 Example Buying Vale Cards
Feral Grove Ley Line Nexus

II
3 I
2

The player has the following spirit symbols from cards in her field: , , , , , .
She spends , , , to buy the Feral Grove. Note that she can use any symbol for the
Feral Grove’s cost, so she chooses to spend an for that cost. She spends her remaining
and to buy the Ley Line Nexus. Note that she can spend her to pay for any spirit symbol
cost, so she chooses to spend the to pay for the cost.

Example Buying Advancements

Deck

Mana Token
(active)

In this example, the player has 3 on cards in her field

and an active token. Note that on the on-deck card
does not count (only and are counted on the
on-deck card).
The player is interested in buying the Podlings which
costs 2 and a Fertile Soil which costs 2 . Since the
player only has 3 , she decides to use her token
and turns it over to the spent side. She now has 4 and
buys both the Podlings and a Fertile Soil.

11
3) Discard Phase
You must first sleeve each advancement you
bought during your Harvest Phase (if any), then
replenish vale cards and advancements in the
commons.
Sleeve Advancements
For each advancement you bought, choose a card in
your field (you cannot choose your on-deck card)
and sleeve the advancement on the card.
You may not sleeve an
advancement if it will cover
another advancement already
on the card (including
advancements on starting
cards). There is one exception
to this rule. Some advancements
have abilities that run long-wise
down the card. You may sleeve
an advancement such that one
long-wise ability is covering
another long-wise ability.
Whichever ability gets covered
is no longer active and is
ignored.
Example Play Area
Deck
Discard Pile On-deck
Card
Fungal Forest
Mana Token
(used)
VP Tokens
II
Tip: Avoid crafting a card with 2 or more .
After your advancements are sleeved (if any), put
all cards in your field off to the side in your own
personal discard pile face down. Don’t discard
your on-deck card.
Replenish Vales
Replace any vale cards you bought by drawing vale
cards from the top of the respective deck. If the
deck of level 1 vale cards runs out, replace bought
level 1 vale cards with cards from the level 2 deck.
Replenish Advancements
Any advancements you bought from the commons
are replaced with new advancements of the same
level from the top of the corresponding deck(s). If
the deck of level 1 advancements runs out, replace
bought level 1 advancements with advancements
from the level 2 deck. Likewise if the level 2
deck runs out and you need to replace a level 2
advancement, instead replace it with a level 3
advancement.
The next player may now begin their turn.
Field
Verdant Valley
Vale Cards
3 6
II
12
4) Prep Phase
While your opponent is beginning their turn, you
can now prep your field. Play your on-deck card as
the first card in your new field and resolve “When
Played” abilities on that card (if any). Then turn
over the top card of your deck, as a new on-deck
card. Continue to place your on-deck card into your
field, to the right of any previously played card and
resolve any “When Played” abilities, until you have
three or more showing (in your field and your
on-deck card). Most often this will be 2 in your
field and 1 on-deck.
End of the Game
When the tokens in the pool run out, finish
playing the current round so that each player gets
an equal number of turns, then the game ends. If
tokens in the pool run out and a player would
still gain , take them from the tokens that were
left in the box.
Players now count their points.
You may have accumulated tokens from cards
that give you tokens each time you play them.

If your field has 2 and your on-deck card shows Some advancements are worth points at the end of
an additional 2 or more , you automatically the game, which is indicated by the gray
Spoil and must skip your Harvest Phase next turn symbol on the right side of the card. You should go
and jump straight to your Discard Phase. You also through all of your cards and count up all the
turn over your token to the active side as a you have on advancements.
consolation for Spoiling. As general advice, avoid Many vale cards are also worth points at the end of
crafting a card with 2 or more . the game, which is indicated by the gray
When you have 3 or more showing, your field is symbol on the right side of the card.
prepped for your next turn. The player with the most total points is the winner.
Note: If a player deems it important, they may wait If two or more players are tied, the player with the
until the previous player has finished their Prep most combined level 3 advancements and level 2
Phase before starting their own Planting Phase. vale cards is the winner. If there is still a tie, then
players share the win.

Example Final Scoring

In this example, the player scores the
following at the end of the game: Cascading Falls

• 12 VP from accumulated tokens.

Talonthorn
• 8 VP from on advancements. Den

• 5 VP from on vale cards. Heart w

ood
Sanctu
ary
The player scores a total of 25 points
(12+8+5=25). I
Ha��est: Gain 1 .
1

Ha��est: Gain
I 1 .
1

II
3

13
Additional Rules On-deck Card
Your on-deck card is not considered to be in your
This section covers additional explanations beyond deck or in your field. Abilities that reference your
the basic rules required to play. deck, like “search your deck”, do not include your
on-deck card.
Mana Token The only symbols that count on your on-deck
You may only spend your active token during card are and symbols. You must play the
your Harvest Phase. card into your field to get any other symbols on
the card.
If you choose not to spend your active token,
it will remain active for your next turns until you “Harvest” and “When Played” abilities cannot be
spend it. used on your on-deck card. “Ongoing” abilities
however, continually affect the card even when it is
If your token is already active and you Spoil, your on-deck card.
the token remains active but you don’t receive
any other reward.
Using Abilities
Guardian Symbol If an ability specifically contradicts the rules, the
ability takes precedence.
Some cards have one or more
(guardian symbol). These symbols have Each ability on an advancement or vale card can
no effect unless an ability on a card only be used once per turn unless it specifically
references them. states otherwise.
Most abilities list when they can be used at the
start of their text, like “Harvest” or “When Played”
for example, otherwise the ability describes when
it can be used. If two or more abilities would
resolve at the same time, like two “Harvest”
abilities for example, the active player chooses
the order they are resolved.
“When Played” abilities are resolved when they
are played into your field, before revealing a new
on-deck card; they are not resolved when they are
Wild Spirit Symbol revealed as your on-deck card.
The (wild spirit symbol) is considered any of “Harvest” abilities in your field are resolved
the spirit symbols: , , , . during your Harvest Phase; they are not resolved
while they are your on-deck card.
If a vale card shows a in its cost, you may use
any spirit symbol to pay that cost. “Ongoing” abilities continually affect the card
whether that card is on-deck, in your field, in your
If a card or ability gives you a , you may use it
discard pile, or in your deck. These effects have no
to pay for any spirit symbol on a vale card’s cost.
trigger, as they are always active.

14
Planting Your Field
New cards that are added into your field must
always be placed to the right of any cards
previously placed in your field. The cards are
designed such that those without text effects can
be overlapped and only the left half of each card
needs to be seen. Try not to overlap cards with
“Ongoing” or “Harvest” abilities, or you may
miss them.
Open and Hidden
Information
You may not look at any cards in a deck unless an
ability allows you to do so.
You may always look at any cards in your own
discard pile. You may not look at cards in other
players’ discard piles unless an ability allows
you to do so.
When you gain tokens they are placed in your
play area and are open information to all players.
Decay
You can only Spoil during your Planting Phase and
Prep Phase. If you have 4 or more revealed
during your Harvest Phase or Discard Phase, you
do not Spoil and there is no effect.
Card vs. Advancement
A card is comprised of everything in its sleeve,
including the starting card itself and any
advancements that are placed in the sleeve.
An advancement is one of the three “slots” that
make up a card; advancements are not counted
as individual cards. Advancements that are
printed on starting cards are still considered an
advancement in regards to rules and abilities.
The “blank” starting card is not considered an
advancement.
15
Card Clarifications
This section covers additional explanations
for advancements and vale cards that may be
referenced during play.
Advancements
Aurora
This is a “Harvest” ability,
meaning if it’s in your field, it
resolves during your Harvest
Phase. You cannot resolve this
ability if you Spoil. Count up the number of cards in
your field (don’t count your on-deck card). A “card”
means everything in a single sleeve—
advancements are not counted as individual cards.
For every 2 cards, rounded down, gain 1 .
For example, if there 9 cards in your field, you
gain 4 .
Calm Weather
This is a “When Played” ability,
meaning it resolves when it goes
from being your on-deck card to
being placed into your field. It
resolves before you turn over
your next on-deck card. This
ability means you look at the top
card of your deck (which is
about to be your on-deck card).
Then either discard it or put it
back on top of your deck. Regardless, you then turn
over a new on-deck card.
Cleansing Rain Earthchant Chorus
This is a “When Played” ability, During your Harvest Phase
meaning it resolves when it goes (when you buy advancements),
from being your on-deck card to if Earthchant Chorus is on a
being placed into your field. It card in your field and that card
resolves before you turn over your next on-deck has one or two open slots to sleeve a new
card. Search your deck for any card and you may advancement, you may declare that you are
put it into your discard pile (you’ll probably want purchasing an advancement that will be sleeved
to choose a Cursed Land), then shuffle your deck on the same card as Earthchant Chorus (it must be
(don’t shuffle your discard pile into your deck) and able to fit an open slot on the card). If you do, that
reveal your next on-deck card. If you choose not to advancement costs 2 less to buy (to a minimum
discard the card, you must still shuffle your deck. of zero), and during your Discard Phase you must
sleeve it where you said you would. Note that
If Cleansing Rain was the bottom card of your during the turn you buy and sleeve Earthchant
deck, such that when you play it there are no cards Chorus its effect is not active and should be
in your deck, first shuffle your discard pile to ignored.
create a new deck, then resolve Cleansing Rain’s
ability.
Feral Chieftain
Dawnsinger This is a “Harvest” ability,
meaning if it’s in your field, it
This is a “Harvest” ability, resolves during your Harvest
meaning if it’s in your field, it Phase. You cannot resolve this
resolves during your Harvest ability if you Spoil. For each on the card,
Phase. You cannot resolve this including the on Feral Chieftain plus any other
ability if you Spoil. For each on the card, on advancements also in the same sleeve, you
including the on Dawnsinger plus any other get 1 . For example, if Feral Chieftain and Stag
on advancements also in the same sleeve, you were sleeved together on the same card, Feral
get 1 additional to spend this turn. For Chieftain would give you 3 during your
example, if Dawnsinger and Stag were sleeved Harvest Phase.
together on the same card, Dawnsinger would give
you 3 during your Harvest Phase.
Gaia’s Chosen
Deadwood Harvester This is an effect that only
matters when counting total
This is a “When Played” ability, points at the end of the game.
meaning it resolves when it goes The advancement gives you 2
from being your on-deck card to end of the game as normal,
being placed into your field. It but it also gives you an
resolves before you turn over additional 1 for every ,
your next on-deck card. This
, , , , , ,
ability means you may discard
and on the card.
any other card which was
already placed in your field However, these are only
(typically a Cursed Land). If counted after ignoring text effects.
Deadwood Harvester is the first card placed into
your field its effect does nothing.

16
For example, if Gaia’s Chosen is sleeved together on Lifebringer Seed
the same card as both Stag and Dawnsinger, this
ability would give you 6 (3 for the , 2 for This is an “Ongoing” ability,
the and , and 1 for the , but 0 from meaning if Lifebringer Seed is
Dawnsinger’s ability because text effects are sleeved on a card, thereafter,
ignored). whether that card is on-deck, in
your field, in your discard pile, or in your deck, it is
For example, if Gaia’s Chosen is sleeved together on considered to have no on it.
the same card as both Stag and Lifebringer Seed,
this ability would give you 4 (2 for the , Magic Seed
1 for the , and 1 for the . Even though
Lifebringer Seed has an “Ongoing” ability that This is a “Harvest” ability,
cancels the , Gaia’s Chosen specifically says to meaning if it’s in your field, it
ignore text effects, so the is still worth 1 ). resolves during your Harvest
Phase. You cannot resolve this
Grassland ability if you Spoil. Count up the
number of other cards in your
While Grassland is in your field field (don’t count your on-deck
during your Harvest Phase, card or the card that Magic Seed
when you count up the you is sleeved on). You gain that
get from symbols on cards much additional to spend
and abilities, you must subtract 1 from the total. If this turn.
you do not have any to lose due to the
Grassland’s ability, there is no effect. Mindful Owl
Grovetender This is a “When Played” ability,
meaning it resolves when it goes
This is an “Ongoing” ability, from being your on-deck card to
meaning if Grovetender is being placed into your field. It
sleeved on a card, thereafter, resolves before you turn over
whether that card is on-deck, in your next on-deck card. This
your field, in your discard pile, or in your deck, ability means you may discard
Grovetender’s ability is in effect. For each on any other card which was
the card ( on advancements in the same sleeve), already placed in your field
Grovetender is considered to have +1 . For (typically a Cursed Land). If
example, if Grovetender and Stag were sleeved Mindful Owl is the first card placed into your field,
together on the same card, Grovetender would be then its effect does nothing.
considered to have 2 . You still, of course, only
get these while Grovetender is in your field or
on-deck.

17
Peacekeeper Druid Woodland Warden
If Peacekeeper Druid is in your This is a “Harvest” ability,
field, its ability is available for meaning if it’s in your field, it
use during your Planting Phase resolves during your Harvest
(or, more rarely, your Prep Phase. You cannot resolve this
Phase). During your Planting Phase, if you push ability if you Spoil. For each on the card,
and the new on-deck card you reveal would result including the on Woodland Warden plus any
in you Spoiling, instead of Spoiling, you may use other on advancements also in the same sleeve,
Peacekeeper Druid’s ability and discard your you get 2 . For example, if Woodland Warden
current on-deck card. Then reveal a new and Stag were sleeved together on the same card,
on-deck card. Woodland Warden would give you 6 during
your Harvest Phase.
You may not use the ability more than once during
your turn. For example, if you were to Spoil but you
use Peacekeeper Druid’s ability to discard your
on-deck card and reveal a new on-deck card, which
also results in you Spoiling, then too bad, you Spoil
anyway.
In the rare case of Spoiling during your Prep Phase,
if Peacekeeper Druid is in your field, you may use
its ability once then as well, but then you cannot
use the ability again during your next Planting
Phase.

Seedling
This is an “Ongoing” ability,
meaning if Seedling is sleeved
on a card, thereafter, whether
that card is on-deck, in your
field, in your discard pile, or in your deck, that card
is considered to have no more than 1 on it. For
example, if Seedling is sleeved on a Cursed Soil
with no other advancement, its ability effectively
does nothing. However, if you also sleeve an
advancement with on it on the same card, like
Hulking Thornhide, then Seedling’s ability cancel’s
the second so the card is considered to have
only 1 on it.

18
Vales
Ancient Liferoots
Ancient Liferoots You always are considered to
have +1 . If you already have
an Ancient Liferoots vale card,
you may not gain a second.
Cascading Falls
Cascading Falls This ability means that every
Harvest Phase you gain 1
to spend during that Harvest
Phase. You cannot use this
ability the turn you buy
this card.

Ha��est: Gain 1
I
.
1

Conclave of Ents
Gain 1 permanent .
You may not have more
than one copy of this card.
II

Conclave of EntsThis ability means that once

Azure Lake
Azure Lake This ability means that every
Harvest Phase you gain 1
to spend during that Harvest
Phase. You cannot use this
ability the turn you buy
this card.
every turn, at any time during
that turn, you may choose a
card in your field or on-deck.
That card is considered to have
+1 on it. For example, if you
were about to Spoil and
Grovetender was sleeved on
Once per turn, choose a card
in your field or on-deck.

II
your on-deck card, then you
That card gains 1
until the end of turn.

may use Conclave of Ents’

ability to temporarily give the Grovetender card
+1 until the end of your turn, which means
Ha��est: Gain 1 .
I

Grovetender gains +1 until the end of your

Blooming Arbor turn and you no longer Spoil.

Blooming Arbor This ability is available for use In the rare case you use Conclave of Ent’s ability
during your Planting Phase (or, during your Prep Phase, the ability stays in effect
more rarely, your Prep Phase). during your next Planting Phase.
During your Planting Phase, if
you push and the new on-deck Pool of Light
card you reveal would result in Pool of Light This ability means that every
you Spoiling, then instead of Harvest Phase you gain 1
Spoiling, you may discard to spend during that Harvest
Blooming Arbor (put it back in
If you were to Spoil,
you may discard this
I card to gain 1 .
Phase. You cannot use this
the game box and it’s considered ability the turn you buy this
out of the game). If you do, you gain 1 . If that card. The may be used to
results in you no longer Spoiling, then you now pay for any spirit symbol on a
continue your turn as normal by choosing to either vale card’s cost.
pass or push. Ha��est: Gain 1 .
II

In the rare case of Spoiling during your Prep Phase,

you may also use Blooming Arbor at that time to
gain 1 until your next Prep Phase.

19
Radiant Pinnacle Stream of Vigor
Radiant Pinnacle This ability means that every Stream of Vigor This ability means that every
Harvest Phase you gain 1 Harvest Phase you gain 2
to spend during that Harvest to spend during that Harvest
Phase. You cannot use this Phase. In addition, you are now
ability the turn you buy limited to buying 0 to 3
this card. advancements each turn instead
of 0 to 2. You cannot use this
ability the turn you buy
this card.
Ha��est: Gain 2
and you may buy a third
I
Ha��est: Gain 1 . 1 II advancement this turn.

Sunstone Aerie Talonthorn Den

Sunstone Aerie This ability means that once Talonthorn Den This ability means that every
each turn during your Harvest Harvest Phase you gain 1
Phase you may spend 2 to spend during that Harvest
(meaning you have 2 less to Phase. You cannot use this
buy advancements with) and ability the turn you buy
this card.
choose 1 spirit symbol ( ,
, ) you have available to
you may spend 2
spend and treat it as though it
Ha��est: Once per turn,
to use
Ha��est: Gain 1 . 1
I any , , or
were a
as 1 .
(wild spirit symbol) I

until the end of your turn. For example, if you

wanted to buy a Ley Line Nexus which costs 1
and 1 , but you only have 1 and 1 , you
may use this ability to treat the as a and
buy the Ley Line Nexus with a and a .
You cannot use this ability the turn you buy
this card.

20
Credits
Game Design: John D Clair
Project Lead: John Goodenough
Development: Bryan Reese, Mark Wootton
Art Direction: Todd Rowland
Cover Art: Kiki Moch Rizky
Card Art: Jess Alphonso, Jack Baker, Storn Cook,
Amber Debelak, Martin de Diego, Andrew Gaia,
Krzysztof Hain, Yogesh Joshi, Heather Kreiter, Jeff
Porter, Kezrek Laczin, Kiri Leonard, Matt Paquette,
Kiki Moch Rizky
Graphic Design: Kali Fitzgerald
Packaging Design: Sean Glenn
Story Text: Ross Watson
Editing: Nicolas Bongiu, Bryan Reese, Todd
Rowland, Mark Wootton
Production: Dave Lepore
Playtesters: Csilla Balogh, Eva Balogh, Katalin
Balogh, Steve Behnke, Maryne Blanchetière,
Nicolas Bongiu, Chris Buckley, Chris Buskirk,
Vincent Carassus, Alex Daar, Ryan Dancy, Kali
Fitzgerald, John Goodenough, Sean Growley, Sean
Heaney, Chris Johnson, Matt Joyce, Kyle Huibers,
Jason Krause, Jean Le Bail, Ben Lesel, Tobias Loc,
Stan Lovelace, Eric Martinez, Mike McDonald,
David Mines, Tim Moore, Chris Mroz, Sam
Nazarian, Josh Nichols, Will Pell, Bryan Reese, Todd
Rowland, Brandon Snyder, Richard Stewart, Zak
Stoltz, Chris Swales, Eric Swanson, Richard Tatge,
Thorin Tatge, Christie Thompson, Mark Wootton,
Erik Yaple, Leo Porter-Zasada, Pace Porter-Zasada,
John Zinser
21
Designer Special Thanks:
I want to specifically thank the awesome people
who volunteered their time to help me playtest
and develop Mystic Vale. If it’s not 100% true to say
that a game is only as good as its playtesters, it’s
at least 90% true, and the thanks owed to these
great contributors should not be understated.
The first on the list has to be Csilla Balogh for all
the wonderful support, input, help, and playtests.
This game would not be what it is without her.
Katalin and Eva Balogh have to be next for their
excitement and willingness to play over and
over nearly every iteration of the game. Other
fantastic contributors who cannot go unmentioned
include, in no particular order, Sam Nazarian,
Chris Buckley, Steve Behnke, Chris Buskirk, Alex
Daar, Sean Growley, Chris Johnson, Pace and Leo
Porter-Zasada, David Mines, Ben Lesel, Zak Stoltz,
and Eric Martinez. Many others also offered their
time to playtest. You know who you are and you
have my thanks! Finally, much credit and thanks
should be given to the great team at AEG for the
professionalism, talent, and friendship of each and
every person I worked with. Working with them
has been rewarding, inspiring, and fun.
Copyright & Contact
© 2016 Alderac Entertainment Group. Mystic Vale,
Card Crafting System, and all related marks are ™
and © Alderac Entertainment Group, Inc. 4045 E.
Guasti Road #210, Ontario, CA 91761 USA
All rights reserved. Printed in China.
Warning: Choking hazard!
Not for use by children under 3 years of age.
Visit our website at www.alderac.com/mystic_vale
Questions? Email CustomerService@alderac.com
 Druidic Clans
There are many druidic clans devoted to nurturing and guarding the Valley of Life. Each
clan focuses on a certain aspect based on the primal forces of nature. This aspect shapes
the clan’s rituals, which grants them different powers and blessings from Gaia. When the
spirits of nature cried out for aid, the Druid Council first sent the four most prominent clans:
Beastbrothers, Lifewardens, Dawnseekers, and Waveguards.

Beastbrothers
Druids belonging to the circle of animals are called Beastbrothers. These
druids form lasting bonds with all forms of animal life. Beastbrothers are
often considered barbaric, preferring to lair in caves and dark forests.
Beastbrothers honor and respect the ways of animals, including the nature
of predator and prey.

Lifewardens
Some druids join a circle dedicated to plant life, the power of growth, and
harmony of nature. These druids are known as Lifewardens. They are
gardeners and caretakers, nurturing life that comes from the earth. Plants,
trees, farms, and gardens are where they roam. Lifewardens catalogue
every plant they encounter, memorizing the uses of herbs, roots, and other
growing things, making them excellent healers.

Dawnseekers
The light of the sun marks the passage of the seasons, and druids who
venerate this process are known as Dawnseekers. This circle of druids
mark the calendar, preferring to make their homes amongst the plains and
savannas where the sun is clearly seen throughout the day. Dawnseekers
rise early, hence their name, though some amongst their number prefer to
remain awake until midnight to mark the end of another day.

Waveguards
Wherever the rivers flow, you can find druids who honor the rushing
waters. These druids are sometimes called Waveguards, and they travel
along stony riverbeds, frost-lined coasts, and into the icy mountains.
Waveguards understand the majesty and power of water like no others,
able to divine weather patterns from a single drop of rain and predict the
tides with uncanny accuracy.

22
 ™

Mystic Vale is just the beginning!

The evil forces which curse the Vale have laid waste
to most of the world. Only one city stands against the
foul tide – a last beacon of hope in a world gone Dark.
Edge of Darkness™ is a revolutionary new game from
AEG that combines aspects of worker placement,
deck building, and fast–paced combat with the
Card Crafting System™ that debuts in Mystic Vale™.
Exciting industry newcomer John D Clair is the
designer of both games.

Edge of Darkness is AEG’s most ambitious,

deluxe, tabletop gaming experience ever. Up to
4 players lead factions in the City on the Edge
of Darkness as they struggle against the odds
to survive in the face of monstrous evil and
civil strife to light a beacon of hope for the
whole world – a promise that Light shall not
be extinguished and that hope remains.
23
 Quick Reference
Setup Taking a Turn
Take the following phases in order.
1. Player Decks
Each player should shuffle their deck and place it 1) Planting Phase
face down in front of them.
Resolve the following steps:
2. The Commons A. You must choose to either pass or push.
Take out all the Fertile Soil advancements and If you pass, skip immediately to your
place them in a separate deck. Separate all the Harvest Phase.
other advancements into decks denoted by their B. If you chose push, place your on-deck card into
level symbols. your field, to the right of any previously played
Shuffle all of the level 1 advancements and count card. Resolve “When Played” abilities on that
out a number of advancements into a deck based card (if any), then turn over the top card of
on the number of players: your deck and place it back on top of your
deck face up as your new on-deck card.
• 2 players: 12 advancements
• 3 players: 15 advancements C. Determine if you have Spoiled.
• 4 players: 18 advancements D. If you have not Spoiled, go back to step A
Then turn over the first 3 advancements of the and repeat.
level 1, 2, and 3 deck.
2) Harvest Phase
3. Vale Cards If you chose to end your Planting Phase before
Shuffle both vale decks, then turn over 4 cards Spoiling, you now complete your Harvest Phase
face up from each deck. (again, only if you did not Spoil).
Count up your and spirit symbols ( , ,
4. Setup VP Tokens , ), resolve “Harvest” abilities on cards in your
Place the tokens in a pool based on the field, score , buy vale cards, and buy
number of players: advancements. All of this can be done in
any order.
• 2 players: 23
• 3 players: 28
3) Discard Phase
• 4 players: 33
Sleeve each advancement you bought (if any),
5. Setup Fields then replenish vale cards and advancements in
the commons.
Each player makes their starting field until
they have two Cursed Lands in their field The next player may now begin their turn.
and a third one on-deck.
4) Prep Phase
6. Determine Starting Player While your opponent is beginning their turn,
Place the tokens so that their active side is face prep your field until you have three or more
up and shuffle them. Each player takes one token showing (in your field and your on-deck card).
at random and turns it over. The player with the
starting player symbol will be the starting player
for this game.
Players are now ready to begin the game!

24